Rail anchor



F. W.. PETERS.

RAIL ANCHOR.

APPLcAToN FILED sEPT; 2, 1922.

Patented Nov. M, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI l.

` :Imummml Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

PATENT' OFFl FRED W'. PETERS, 0F OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO VERONA TOL WORKS, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL ANCHOR.

Application filed September 12, 1922. Serial No. 587,725.

To all 'whom it 'may concern Be it knownV that I, FRED W. PETERS, a

citizen of the `United States, residing at Oakmont, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefullfmprovement in Bail Anchors, of which scription.

The present invention relates broadly vto railanchors of that class having a clamping engagement with a rail base and a cooperatthe following is a full, clear, and exact deing engagement with a tie to check longitu-` dinal creeping of the rail.

" It has heretofore been proposed to construct yrail anchors efliective as levers, and

having a loop engaging one flange of a rail together with means for exerting an upward flexing pressure on the edge of the rail flangefi stroyed the true shape of the rail to which they were applied. By the present invention there is provided a rail anchor which, While engaging one flange of a rail base, and in certain instances slightly movable about its point of engagement as a fulcrum, is effective for laterally clamping the rail as disti-nguished from `crimping or flexing the same. This insures a firm hold on the rail Without any objectionable vbending. F urthe'rmore, itis desirable tol provide a rail anchor which may be easily constructed, quickly lappliec and reused as may be found necessary. i

In the accompanyingdrawings there are shown for purposes of illustration only certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of my invention, as changes may be made in the construction and operation therein illustrated without departing from the spirit or scope of my broader claims.

' In the drawings:

Figure l illustrates a rail section having one form of rail anchor applied -theretogl Figure 2 is an edge view of the rail anchor itself with the key removed therefrom;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the key;

Figure 4 is a view, corresponding to Figure l, illustrating a slightly different form of rail anchor;

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 1, illustrating a further embodiment of the invention, and

Such co'nstructions have de- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the rail anchor illustrated in Figure 5.

*Referring more particularly to'the drawings, lthere is illustrated in Figure l a section of al standard rail 2 having a rail anchor constructed in accordance with one embodiment 'of the invention applied thereto. This rail anchor comprises a main body portion 3 which is preferably formed from a relatively flatv imperforate bar of suitable material. While the rail anchor may be of forged or wrought metal, it will be obvious that if desired it may be formed by casting or infany other well known manner.

Formed on one end of the body portion 3 is a flange engaging loop 4 adapted to receive one edge of the rail base flange. The opposite end of the body portion may be shaped to provide ahead 5 either with or without the reinforcing rib' 6. The head 5 preferably extends upwardly from the main body portion a sufficient distance whereby when the rail anchor is applied, a portion of the head will lie in the horizontal plane occupied by the rail base flange. As the rail base flange engaging loop 4 need not be formed to provide an accurate and tight fit with the base flange of the rail, it will be apparent that the anchor may be easily applied.

In vthe form of the invention illustrated more particularly in Figures l and 2 of the drawings, the head 5 has key receiving shoulders 7 Which extend at a slight angle with respect to a vertical plane, the angle being such that the shoulders diverge upwardly and outwardly from such plane. Adapted `to cooperate with the inclined shoulders 7 is a `wedge-shaped key 8 which is preferably bifurcated throughout a portion of its length to provide portions adapted to `straddle the rib 6, where such rib is provided, and a portion of the body 3.

As the key 8 is driven into position between the shoulders 7 and the edge of the rail base flange, it will be apparentk that the rail anchor is bodily moved laterally in such 'manner that the loop 4 more firmly engages the edge vof the rail base flange embraced thereby. By reason of the upward extension of the head 5, there is provided a second bearing surface in the plane of the rail base flange, whereby the base of the rail is firmly clamped,

.'p'arts corresponding to vthe parts already 7'flextend in a vertical direction.

described are indioate'd by; the ..same refer-v encef characters having a primeadded thereto. In this embodiment of the invention the rib 6 is omitted and the shoulders In some instances this construction has been found desirablev as driving the key 8' into position, does not` effect any turning movement of the -rail anchor about itsfulcrum pointl within the loop 4'. 'f f Figures 'and 6` illustrate still another modified form. of the;invention,-and for sake of; brevity parts correspondingto` the parts already referred to in connection with igures 1 to 3 are indicated bythe same reference charactersihaving a one prefixed thereto. In'this form' ofthe invention the shouldersl'A are inclined in the op osite` direction whereby as the keyV 18 is d riven 4intopositionthe.body of the rail anchor will be drawn upwardly against the bottom of the rail base simultaneously with the lat-- eralmovement ,of the rail Vanchor which effectsthe desired clampi'ng of the rail'base. i By` providing arail anchor with a head as* disclosed herein and using therewith a bifurcated key, it is possibleto obviate the necessityof forming the railanchor with a separate key receiving loop or opening. This has 'decided advantages in the manufacture of the anchor, as the cost thereof may be decreased. At. the same time, due to the construction of the key, a. wide bearing surface between the key and the rail base flangeV is provided.

I claim: f i 1.1In a rail an'chor, a body portion havinga rail base flange engaging loop on one end thereof, aiheadon the opposite end, and a bifurcated keyadapted to straddle said body portion and extend between the -rail base vdange-and the head, substantially as described.

2. In a rail anchor, a' body portionhavin f a rail base'flange engaging loop on one en thereof, a head-on theopposite end,'and a `wedge-shaped bifurcated. -key adapted .to straddle said body portion and extend between the base flange and the head, substantially as described. a

3,l In a rail anchor, a body portion having a rail base flange engaging means on one end thereof, a head on the opposite end, and a bifurcated key adapted to straddle the body portion and extend between the base fiange and the head, said key being taperedto move the body of the rail anchor laterally as the key is driven into position, substantially as described.

(l. In a rail anchor, a body portion having a rail base flange engaging means on one end thereof, a head on the opposite end projecting upwardly from the body portion, and a bifurcated key adapted to straddle the body portion and extend between the base fiange and the head, substantially as described.

,5, In a rail anchor, a body portion'having a rail base flange engaging means on one end thereof, a head on the opposite end, said head providing inclined key engaging shoulders, and la bifurcated key vadapted to straddle the body portion and extend between the base liangeand said shoulders, substantially as described.

6. In a rail anohor, a body portion having a rail base flange engaging means on one end thereof, a head on the opposite end, said head .providing inclined key engaging shoulders, and va bifurcated key adapted to straddlejthe body por-tion and extend between the base flange and said shoulders, said key being tape'red to move the body of the rail anchorj laterally' as the key is driven [into position, substantially as described.

7. In a rail anchor, a flat body portion adapted to extend beneath a rail base flange, said body portion having va flange engaging loop on one end thereof andan upwardly projecting head on the opposite end, and a bifurcated key adapted to straddle the body portion and extend between the base flange andl the head, vsubstantially las described.

8. In a rail anchor, a flat body portion adapted to extend beneath a rail base flange,

said body portion havinga flange. engaging loop on one endthereof and an upwardly projecting headon the opposite end, and a bifurcated key adapted to straddle the body portion and extendin a vertical direction between the base 4flange and Vthe head, substantially as described.

In-testimony whereof I haVe'hereunto-set my hand. a

. I FRED VV. PETERS. 

